Mignon Francois – How She Turned $5 into $10 Million as the CEO & Founder of The Cupcake Collection

November 18, 2020 | By Joy Chudacoff Leave a Comment

Mignon Francois on She's Got Moxie with Joy Chudacoff

My guest today, Mignon Francois, CEO & Founder of The Cupcake Collection, is a very enthusiastic and positive entrepreneur who turned a recipe that she received from her grandmother into a $10 million business.

Mignon was a stay-at-home mom who was tired of her children not being able to go on field trips because she did not have the extra money. At the time, she had no bakery experience, but she took her grandmother’s recipe, spent $5 on ingredients and the rest they say is history. Mignon’s business turned out to be a much bigger success than she could ever imagine.

On today’s show, Mignon shares the story of how The Cupcake Collection began its humble beginnings. She talks about the challenges that she has faced in her company, her “sampling” strategy, her actions steps to success, and more.

You can Subscribe and Listen to the Podcast on Apple Podcasts. And be sure to leave me a Rating and Review!

Overnight success takes 10 years.” – Mignon Francois

Show Notes:

The moment Mignon decided to turn an old recipe into a NEW idea
What MOTIVATED her to keep going every day despite the challenges
How she has grown and scaled her business from a start-up to being recognized as one of the TOP cupcake bakeries in the US with multiple locations
Why a “sampling” strategy is important for a product-based business
The really big gamble Mignon made as she bet on her success
What it has been like to maintain business during the pandemic

My action step was to stop waiting and start doing.” – Mignon Francois

Connect with Mignon Francois:

Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | The Cupcake Collection

Everybody wants to be great, but nobody wants to get up at dawn.” – Mignon Francois

Cindy Eckert – Creator of “The Little Pink Pill” (Female Viagra) and Selling Her Company For 1 Billion Dollars

November 11, 2020 | By Joy Chudacoff Leave a Comment

When she realized that there were 26 medications for men’s pleasure and not one single solution for women, my guest Cindy Eckert, thought “this is Ridiculous!”

Cindy set out to create “the little pink pill” (currently the #1 prescribed treatment for low sexual desire in women).

Cindy is the true definition of what I call “moxie.” Not only is she the creator of the pink pill and the founder of The Pink Ceiling, but she has also built and sold two pharmaceutical companies (including Sprout Pharmaceuticals, which she sold for more than $1 BILLION – yes, that’s a B, Ladies).

Called by Fortune as a “tireless force of nature,” Cindy lets us in on some intimate details of her life and entrepreneurial path. She talks about her unique upbringing, how she worked to overcome the stigma around women’s pleasure while creating the Pink Pill, her tip to taking advantage of life’s opportunities, her thoughts on the pandemic, and more.

You can Subscribe and Listen to the Podcast on Apple Podcasts. And be sure to leave me a Rating and Review!

26 medications for men and not a single one for women is ridiculous.” – Cindy Eckert

Show Notes:

How Cindy went from a Corporate Career to a Block Buster Success as an Entrepreneur
Why it’s essential to do what “Lights up your Soul” (it wasn’t about MONEY for Cindy)
The moment Cindy realized she had an opportunity to develop the first pharmaceutical product for women’s SEXUAL pleasure
How 2020 has RESET the entrepreneurial landscape for women – in a GOOD Way!
Why it’s important to be SPECIFIC in your biz contracts and how that one piece catapulted her to a whole new level in advocating for women
Where Success truly ORIGINATES from
Details on both The Pink Ceiling & The Pinkubator and how they are helping women elevate their entrepreneurial dreams
The most important mindset that Cindy has adopted in order to accelerate her journey as a woman in business

Success does not come from having all of the answers, it comes from having the courage.” – Cindy Eckert

Connect with Cindy Eckert:

Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | The Pink Ceiling

Relentlessness is just the belief that you can get back up and you can find the way.” – Cindy Eckert

Kerrigan Behrens – From Wall Street to CBD with the Co-Founder of Sagely Naturals

October 21, 2020 | By Joy Chudacoff Leave a Comment

My guest today, Kerrigan Behrens, co-founder of the CBD company, Sagely Naturals, shares her entrepreneurial journey from finance to CBD.

Kerrigan started her career in the financial market on Wall Street. Around this time, she developed persistent back pain that doctors couldn’t seem to diagnose. A friend told her about CBD and she became interested in trying it for pain relief. At first she doubted that CBD would be able to help her, but after trying some CBD honey (and feeling pain relief within 30-minutes), she changed her mind. The experience led Kerrigan to leave her career on Wall Street and embrace entrepreneurship and co-found Sagely Naturals.

On today’s show, Kerrigan shares how she and her co-founder bootstrapped their business with only 30k and how they made their business profitable in just 6 months. She shares the difference between CBD and THC, the medicinal benefits of CBD, and the first steps to create an approachable consumer brand, the importance of resilience, and much more.

You can Subscribe and Listen to the Podcast on Apple Podcasts. And be sure to leave me a Rating and Review!

We knew before we even started the company that there was a market for it.” – Kerrigan Behrens

Show Notes:

The FIRST step to create an approachable consumer brand
How she took the pain she was having and turned it into a passion
How she and her co-founder bootstrapped the business with 30K and made a PROFIT in just 6 months
She’s got Big INFLUENCERS like Cameron Diaz and Zoe Saldana loving the product
She realized that CBD needed a MAKEOVER and she was excited to take that on
The difference between CBD and THC
How Kerrigan took advantage of starting a company in Los Angeles
How they became the Top SELLING CBD Topical product in the country (they are in over 12,000 retail outlets now)
The key characteristics that have gotten Kerrigan through challenging times (while giving birth to her first child during the pandemic)
We talk a lot about the BEST Books we’ve read – the ones that are “real changemakers”
And much, much more…

For every success there are multiple failures.” – Kerrigan Behrens

Connect with Kerrigan Behrens:

Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Sagely Naturals

Perfection is just not possible, so live with that realization and just take steps to make progress as you go.” – Kerrigan Behrens

Mikaila Ulmer – CEO & Founder of Me & The Bees Lemonade (She’s Celebrating a Decade in Business and She’s Only 15)

October 14, 2020 | By Joy Chudacoff Leave a Comment

My guest today, Mikaila Ulmer, is back for interview #2! She was originally on the show back in August 2018. This is a special year for Mikaila because she is not only celebrating a decade in business but she’s also published her first book, Bee Fearless: Dream Like a Kid!

With her very positive “can-do” attitude, Mikaila tells us how getting stung by a bee twice in one week, led her on a journey to understand the importance of bees to the environment. Ultimately, this became the gateway for her to enter her lemonade into a local business fair. (Today, Me & the Bees Lemonade is sold in over 1,500 stores nationwide!)

She also shares her Shark Tank experience, as well as the moment she had to understand the legal side of entrepreneurship and the impact it can have on your brand.

You can Subscribe and Listen to the Podcast on Apple Podcasts. And be sure to leave me a Rating and Review!

Create a product that appeals to the most people, you can’t please everyone, so don’t try. Stay true to your mission and focus on helping your mission.” – Mikaila Ulmer

Show Notes:

How showcasing her lemonade in a local business fair when she was 4-years-old led to having her lemonade in over 1,500 stores today
Her simple, easy, first steps to get the word out about Me & the Bees Lemonade
She reminds us to always be minding our ABC’s! (Always Be Curious) This ONE attribute got her into her first restaurant.
What it was like to be a contestant on Shark Tank (her parents initially said NO when she was offered a spot) but her persistence paid off!
The importance of a hand-written “Thank You” note
Her “Face on the Bottle” moment and how that impacted her brand
What it’s like to be in online school during the pandemic while running a business
Understanding the “legal” side of entrepreneurship came early (she was only 8-years-old) and the important lesson she learned. “Lose the battle. Win the War.”

It’s not just about the products you sell, but the stories you tell.” – Mikaila Ulmer

Connect with Mikaila Ulmer:

Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Me & the Bees

Don’t be discouraged by life’s little stings, get back up and spread your wings!” – Mikaila Ulmer

Lizanne Falsetto – Founder of thinkThin®, Pink Talented Angels, and a World Renowned Pioneer in the Health & Wellness Industry

October 7, 2020 | By Joy Chudacoff Leave a Comment

Lizanne Falsetto, Founder & Former CEO of thinkThin® is back! She was a guest on the show in 2018 and a lot has happened in the last two years! Lizanne sold her company for 217M (yep, million) so you’ll want to listen-in to all of her many gold nuggets in this episode!

Lizanne is a world-renowned pioneer in the health & wellness retail food space. Throughout her 20 year run with thinkThin®, she initiated the “gluten-free” conversation and developed the first high protein/sugar free product in that category. Lizanne has consistently been ahead of the times in identifying market and industry trends.

On today’s episode of ‘She’s Got Moxie’, Lizanne talks about her new organization, Pink Talented Angels (PTA) and how to find opportunities in a crisis, the importance of meditation, her tips to combining the emotional, mental and physical parts of your life to reach success, and much more.

You can Subscribe and Listen to the Podcast on Apple Podcasts. And be sure to leave me a Rating and Review!

The best brands really come from the authenticity of how they started.” – Lizanne Falsetto

Show Notes:

The most important QUESTION to ask yourself if you’re ready to scale (she should know; she sold her company for 217M)
How she got the idea to start thinkThin (it was based out of her own NEED)
The MOMENT she knew it was time to sell
Her BEST ADAVICE for women who are looking to build a business with the goal of selling
The brand new organization she has started to support WOMEN entrepreneurs
HOW to Build a Solid Brand During the Pandemic
Why Your STORY Matters so much, especially NOW
Advice she hears in the start-up arena that she DOES NOT agree with
Why EMOTIONS are good for decision-making
How she gets through the really TOUGH Days – PURE GOLD
The #1 ingredient you need to become a Strong LEADER
The advice she wished she would have had before that first trip to Tokyo as a model

When you run a career for 25 years, you make a lot of mistakes, and the best way to teach, is by giving the entrepreneur the messaging of what you did wrong.” – Lizanne Falsetto

Connect with Lizanne Falsetto:

Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Lizanne Falsetto

You can stand in your feminine power as a female and still be heard.” – Lizanne Falsetto

Emily Raiber – Media Expert & Entrepreneur on Using Social Media to Enhance Your Business

September 16, 2020 | By Joy Chudacoff Leave a Comment

Emily Raiber, Founder & CEO of Emily Raiber Media, is an award-winning media professional with over a decade of experience producing television programming and content in both news and entertainment. She has worked with NBC, CNN, and FOX. As an experienced television professional, she has produced national, cable, live, local, and broadcast network programs.

She decided to hang her hat in the entrepreneurial arena and use her genius to help entrepreneurs expand their brand using the power of social media.

On today’s show, Emily shares that even though she worked for some of the most powerful networks in New York, she knew entrepreneurship was in her future. She also talks about how she harnessed the power of Instagram early on, her thoughts on the TikTok app, tips on how to get more attention on Instagram, advice for pricing your services, the importance of finding your team and so much more.

You can Subscribe and Listen to the Podcast on Apple Podcasts. And be sure to leave me a Rating and Review!

If you are doing a little bit on all of those channels and really not succeeding in any of them, you need to scale back and concentrate in one that will give you results.” – Emily Raiber

Show Notes:

How to use social media to ENHANCE your business
Her best advice on where to FOCUS your energy when it comes to social media – PRICELESS!
Her thoughts on WHY it’s Essential to price your products and services well
The BEST social media platform to use for your business
Her 4 TOP TIPS to attract attention and gain followers on Instagram
How and why HASHTAGS are key
Her advice on what to do when you feel like giving up – PURE GOLD!
The challenges working mothers are facing trying to run a business while NAVIGATING online school for kids
The SILVER Lining she has discovered in 2020

A lot of things will come up and you have to move on from them very quickly and bounce back.” – Emily Raiber

Connect with Emily Raiber:

Instagram | Emily Raiber Media

You have to find your joy and you have to be present for your family.” – Emily Raiber

Bethany McDaniel – Launching a Business With Just $250 – CEO & Founder of Primally Pure

September 9, 2020 | By Joy Chudacoff Leave a Comment

After struggling with acne and skin sensitivity as a teenager, my guest Bethany McDaniel, CEO & Founder of Primally Pure decided to dive deep into the power of real food & natural ingredients. In her deep research and self-education process, she uncovered the knowledge that there were a lot of toxic ingredients found in deodorant which led her on a journey to make her own. She found something that worked for her but unfortunately, her hubby wasn’t too excited to try it so she had to get busy and find another way to win him over. This is when Primally Pure, was born.

On this episode, Bethany talks about how she started her business with only $250, as well as her deodorant tube disaster of 2017 – which was a good reminder of the ebb & flow of entrepreneurial life. Bethany also talks about her best action steps, how contacting influencers helped her grow her business, and much more.

You can Subscribe and Listen to the Podcast on Apple Podcasts. And be sure to leave me a Rating and Review!

I’m a firm believer that you can do so much with very little.” – Bethany McDaniel

Show Notes:

How her early days as a staff WRITER got her thinking about owning her own biz
WHY she chose Deodorant as her first product (Her hubby wasn’t too excited)
How a $250 purchase got the ball ROLLING to a multi-million dollar company
The #1 ingredient to her early success (I love the SIMPLICITY of this)
How her LEADERSHIP has changed from the early days
The 2017 Deodorant Tube DISASTER that taught her an important life lesson
The Business ADVICE she hears that she absolutely does not agree with

Knowing what it is to be an entrepreneur, there are always going to be struggles and things rarely go as planned.” – Bethany McDaniel

Connect with Bethany McDaniel:

Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | Primally Pure

It’s like this puzzle that you constantly have to tweak and figure it out all the time.” – Bethany McDaniel

LaDawn Townsend – Strategic Advisor & CEO of The VOS Group

September 2, 2020 | By Joy Chudacoff Leave a Comment

My guest today, LaDawn Townsend, understands entrepreneurial disappointment. She was turned down 35 times for a business loan before starting her business, The VOS Group.

In other words, LaDawn knows how to handle a “no” – which is one of the reasons why she created The VOS Group, a company that helps business owners increase their revenue and streamline processes to create a stable foundation that deepens the customer base.

LaDawn is trained in Six Sigma Green Belt process improvement and Technology Project Management, delivering quantifiable results for her clients. Her “career” started early on when she was growing up working alongside her family in their business.

On today’s podcast, LaDawn shares how she survived after getting so many no’s, the reason she kept her corporate job while growing her business, how she earned the trust of business owners, all the ups and downs of her trajectory and the challenges of being a black woman in business. She also talks about the importance of your company’s annual numbers and how you should work under a positive vibration.

We also explore her thoughts on the Black Lives Matter movement and her ideas on how to approach race, diversity, and opportunities for minorities in our communities.

You can Subscribe and Listen to the Podcast on Apple Podcasts. And be sure to leave me a Rating and Review!

You are missing an element when you don’t have diversity.” – LaDawn Townsend

Show Notes:

HOW she moved beyond 35 NO’s when asking for a business loan
How her “Trust Google” strategy helped figure out the next steps in her career
WHY she kept her corporate job while growing her business
The QUESTION people avoid that’s key to growth
Simple back-to-basics Tips on Growing your Side Hustle while working a F.T. Corporate job
How and when she knew it was time to leave her Corporate Job behind and “go for it” in her business
The difference between the busy work and the productive work in your business
How to earn the trust of business owners
Her thoughts on approaching racial bias, opportunities for minorities & how she’s processing this time in the world

Sometimes when we stay too long in one position, we need to be pushed into our purpose.” – LaDawn Townsend

Connect with LaDawn Townsend:

Facebook | LinkedIn | Twitter | LaDawn Townsend

Everyone has a relationship with money.” – LaDawn Townsend

Marilyn O’Toole – Demystifying The College Application Process

July 22, 2020 | By Joy Chudacoff Leave a Comment

I’m thrilled to have Marilyn O’Toole, CEP (Certified Educational Planner) & Founder of The College Consortium, as my guest on today’s show.

Marilyn is an Independent Educational Consultant and College Counselor. Marilyn has been a Site Coordinator for Johns Hopkins University, Center for Talented Youth since 2005 and has been the keynote speaker at Johns Hopkins University CTY “Pathways to College” programs at UC Berkeley, UCLA, Pomona College, University of San Francisco, and University of San Diego.

In other words, she knows what she’s talking about when it comes to preparing high school students for college.

On today’s episode, Marilyn demystifies the confusing college process and shares a ton of free resources with us. Marilyn and I also talk about the changes and challenges that high school students will experience while applying for colleges during the pandemic, the importance of a powerful essay, the factors that colleges consider impressive in an application during this time, and much more.

You can Subscribe and Listen to the Podcast on Apple Podcasts. And be sure to leave me a Rating and Review!

If you really love the school, be able to express that on and in your essay.” – Marilyn O’Toole

Show Notes:

A fresh new look at the college application process for students in 2021 & beyond
The silver lining that has taken place for students during the Pandemic
Critical questions parents need answers to before dropping their kids on campus this fall
What colleges will be focused on NOW when reviewing applications
A plethora of FREE Resources to help students to do virtual tours and apply to colleges
How to use the quarantine period to your advantage as a college-bound senior
Why SAT and ACT scores are no longer required for many colleges & what Marilyn thinks about this
Insights on how the Pandemic has changed the learning “experience” for students
The near future for Community Colleges – great food for thought here…
A personal story Marilyn shares about her own experience being a parent of a child headed to college

One of the problems that community colleges are going to experience is the quantity of people enrolling and the limited budget that we have regionally on state, local or in the city.” – Marilyn O’Toole

Connect with Marilyn O’Toole:

Facebook | LinkedIn | The College Consortium

I always suggest to students – do your research.” – Marilyn O’Toole

Bibi Goldstein – CEO and Founder of Buying Time, Virtual Assistant Services for Your Business

June 17, 2020 | By Joy Chudacoff Leave a Comment

My guest today, Bibi Goldstein, started her business 13 years ago to do personal errands for time-starved families. Her initial vision was walking your dog, picking up dry-cleaning and other tasks that busy families never seem to get to. Fast forward 13 years, Buying Time LLC has grown and morphed into something much bigger and her ideal clients today are entrepreneurs.

She quickly discovered there was a high demand for virtual support among small business owners so she jumped on board.

On today’s show, Bibi tells us all about how staying open to changes brought great success in her business. She also shares tips to maximize your cash flow, how to best engage with your support system, and much more.

You can Subscribe and Listen to the Podcast on Apple Podcasts. And be sure to leave me a Rating and Review!

We want it to be some place where people want to work. It is not just about the hourly amount that they’re making.” – Bibi Goldstein

Show Notes:

The One ACTION Step she took that catapulted her business to another level – this will surprise you
Why “shedding some weight” in her business was a tough but smart move
How the BEST decision she made for her business was also the HARDEST
The importance of STAYING OPEN to changes in your business
Why you must make friends with your NUMBERS
WHAT keeps her motivated as an entrepreneur after 13 years in business
The interesting change she sees coming out of the pandemic in her industry
The advice she hears in the start-up arena that makes her stomach turn

A virtual assistant can do anything that an in person assistant can do, except get you coffee.” – Bibi Goldstein

Connect with Bibi Goldstein:

Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Buying Time

When you hire Buying Time you are hiring eight people with eight different skill sets.” – Bibi Goldstein

Mignon Francois – How She Turned $5 into $10 Million as the CEO & Founder of The Cupcake Collection

You can Subscribe and Listen to the Podcast on Apple Podcasts. And be sure to leave me a Rating and Review!

Show Notes:

Connect with Mignon Francois:

Cindy Eckert – Creator of “The Little Pink Pill” (Female Viagra) and Selling Her Company For 1 Billion Dollars

You can Subscribe and Listen to the Podcast on Apple Podcasts. And be sure to leave me a Rating and Review!

Show Notes:

Connect with Cindy Eckert:

Kerrigan Behrens – From Wall Street to CBD with the Co-Founder of Sagely Naturals

You can Subscribe and Listen to the Podcast on Apple Podcasts. And be sure to leave me a Rating and Review!

Show Notes:

Connect with Kerrigan Behrens:

Mikaila Ulmer – CEO & Founder of Me & The Bees Lemonade (She’s Celebrating a Decade in Business and She’s Only 15)

You can Subscribe and Listen to the Podcast on Apple Podcasts. And be sure to leave me a Rating and Review!

Show Notes:

Connect with Mikaila Ulmer:

Lizanne Falsetto – Founder of thinkThin®, Pink Talented Angels, and a World Renowned Pioneer in the Health & Wellness Industry

You can Subscribe and Listen to the Podcast on Apple Podcasts. And be sure to leave me a Rating and Review!

Show Notes:

Connect with Lizanne Falsetto:

Bethany McDaniel – Launching a Business With Just $250 – CEO & Founder of Primally Pure

You can Subscribe and Listen to the Podcast on Apple Podcasts. And be sure to leave me a Rating and Review!

Show Notes:

Connect with Bethany McDaniel:

LaDawn Townsend – Strategic Advisor & CEO of The VOS Group

You can Subscribe and Listen to the Podcast on Apple Podcasts. And be sure to leave me a Rating and Review!

Show Notes:

Connect with LaDawn Townsend:

Marilyn O’Toole – Demystifying The College Application Process

You can Subscribe and Listen to the Podcast on Apple Podcasts. And be sure to leave me a Rating and Review!

Show Notes:

Connect with Marilyn O’Toole:

Bibi Goldstein – CEO and Founder of Buying Time, Virtual Assistant Services for Your Business

You can Subscribe and Listen to the Podcast on Apple Podcasts. And be sure to leave me a Rating and Review!

Show Notes:

Connect with Bibi Goldstein:

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